On October 31, an anti-terrorism court in Islamabad took action in a high-profile case involving senior journalist Matiullah Jan, issuing a notice to the police regarding the provision of case documents. The case, which includes charges of narcotics possession and terrorism, was registered at Margalla Police Station on November 28, 2024.
During the hearing, presided over by Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra, attorney Mian Ali Ashfaq, representing Jan, submitted a power of attorney and argued that his client had been unfairly “portrayed as a terrorist.” The judge acknowledged the need to hear from the police and scheduled the next hearing for November 8.
Lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists President Afzal Butt, and other journalists were present during the proceedings. This judicial action follows a prior hearing where Jan’s plea for acquittal was denied, and documents related to the case were provided to him. Numerous veteran journalists and rights advocates have called for the withdrawal of the charges against Jan, labeling them as unjust.
The charges stem from an incident reported by police on the night of November 26, 2024. According to the first information report (FIR) registered at Margalla Police Station, Jan’s car was stopped at a checkpoint in Sector E-9, where he allegedly resisted arrest, rammed into a police barrier, and snatched a rifle before being subdued. The FIR invokes Section 9(2)4 of the Control of Narcotic Substances Act (CNSA) for possessing 100 to 500 grams of crystal meth and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) for acts of terrorism.
Jan was arrested on November 27, 2024, and remanded to police custody. The Islamabad High Court later overturned that decision, transferring him to judicial custody. His defence counsels, Advocates Imaan Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chatha, subsequently secured his post-arrest bail.
In a letter to the Inspector General of Islamabad Police, Jan alleged abduction and torture prior to his arrest. He claimed that on November 27, 2024, he and fellow journalist Saqib Bashir were taken from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Hospital parking area by men in police uniforms, blindfolded, and detained at an unknown location. Jan stated that a “bogus FIR” was later registered against him and that his colleague had submitted a sworn affidavit confirming their abduction.
Jan also referred to his earlier abduction in 2020, stating that such acts violated his constitutional and professional rights as well as the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act, 2021. He urged the Inspector General to appoint an impartial officer to investigate the case.
